Advice

[luv2swm]

I have been looking around here for a few days now and have found an awesome wealth of knowledge, I have no real idols or role models that I have always strived to be or looked to model my own behavior from, but I usually look to people who demonstrate good human behavior. I know that I have to judge myself and choose for myself (not to good at asking for advice, I guess I have viewed indecision as weakness), but I have been observing SOF guys and their behavior for some time now and have come to appreciate your views and inputs.

It's a career question that will have a pretty big effect on my life in the long term as well as the short term. Here's some background info--sorry in advance for the length. I graduated in May from K-State and commisioned into the Army Reserves, I wanted RD because of the unit and I wanted to work on my PhD. The unit is an Aviation unit, but I was branched Engineer (couldn't ask for Aviation at assessment because my flight physical wasn't done). I'm AD prior service (90-97), I was invited to a Delta briefing in 96 and was sold on the life, but wanted a degree first (high school dream to get a PhD in physics). If I follow through with the Aviation path I will do flight school for a year and then drill with the NG and work on my doctorate. If I chose the Engineer path I will do a 4 month OBC and hopefully sapper and ranger, then push for active duty and work on grad school later.

One thing going for me is my wife (just married in Aug) will support me in anything I choose. Her dad is a retired LTC and her brother is an Apache pilot with the 101st (Afg and Iraq) so she understands the life. Anyone I dated before hated that I was military esp. pre-9/11, it's nice to have civillian support, I couldn't possibly imagine the Vietnam era.

Anyway, if I do Aviation and want to go operational in the future I don't think that I would have as much fun in the clouds as I would on the ground and after speaking with Gen Brown at the SOF Ball this last spring, he says that it's hard to change over due to the money already spent on flight school, other guys I have spoke with in and out of teams, seem to think that since Aviation is a once in a lifetime thing that is the route to follow. So, you can see I'm at one of the most significant crossroads in my life, personally I know that whatever I choose I will have fun and Army-wise I'm a lifer and hoping to retire with it, active or reserve. After seven years and a six year break I still love to break starch and shine my boots (kiwi and water, only way to go, that's what made me go back in 02 and Lasek, I hated my BCD's). Thanx for any input you may have, Scott.

[Jo Sul]

My understanding is that if you are an Aviation officer, you CANNOT go to SF (because of the money spent on you for Aviation). Not sure if there is a similar restriction for switching to Engineer or Infantry to go Ranger - at very least you will probably get some serious talking to if you try to bail from the Aviation branch. Therefore if you do go aviation first this will probably close the door on your other options.

Another alternative would be to do the engineer/infantry/ranger/SF stuff first, then later (if you still want to) transition to Aviation. A friend of mine did infantry and Special Forces as an NCO, then commissioned into Aviation.

My 2 cents worth - If you really want to do the hardcore stuff, then do it first. It would be alot harder to do it after you are older, maybe impossible if your Aviation unit won't release you.

[Bill Harsey]

Go where you can kick the most ass.

[Razor]

Decide what is most important to you, then start down that path. I know that sounds simplistic, but its a tried and true method. Yes, some doors will close as you progress toward your goal (i.e. maybe being unable to go ground SOF if you go AV), so you have to decide which endstate means the most to you, and accept that you will foresake other opportunities to get where you want to go. All decisions have repercussions, both good and bad.

[Bill Harsey]

There is a group of pilots who directly support SF.
It's pretty close to being on the ground with them.

[The Reaper]

There is a group of pilots who directly support SF.

Roger, we are almost always short on MH-47 pilots.

It's pretty close to being on the ground with them.

Not exactly, unless you get shot down. Then you can be like us for a little while.

TR

[CommoGeek]

Not exactly, unless you get shot down. Then you can be like us for a little while.

TR

You and NDD need to go do stand up comedy. You've missed your calling.

[Jo Sul]

SF is just stand-up comedy with live ammunition.

[luv2swm]

Thanx for all of the input gent's, I'm starting to see through the fog.

[NousDefionsDoc]

Some of the finest people I know are helo pilots.

What ever you decide to be, be the best one you can. Your people will be counting on you regardless.

Good luck.